SUV Review: 2013 Buick Enclave

The Enclave’s 3.6-litre V6 engine generates 288 horsepower and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

PHOTO: Handout, Buick

The Enclave provides a nice driving experience with many luxurious features that are standard equipment.

GM Canada

Many safety features also come standard with this vehicle, including rear cross traffic alerts that help you detect vehicles as you are backing up.

PHOTO: Graeme Fletcher, Driving

While most auto manufacturers give you option lists as long as your arm, the Enclave’s many luxuries come as standard equipment.

PHOTO: Graeme Fletcher, Driving

Designed to be a people mover with the ability to travel in style, the Enclave has definitely served that purpose well.

PHOTO: Handout, Buick

Seating for seven with an option for eight gives riders plenty of room and all seats are comfortable.

PHOTO: Handout, Buick

The perforated leather seats conform to your body and provide comfort and warmth.

PHOTO: Handout, Buick

The Buick Enclave has a very healthy cargo capacity.

PHOTO: Handout, Buick

Style and comfort define Buick crossover that’ll make any day on the highway an enjoyable one

By Ian Harwood, Driving

Originally published: October 22, 2013

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The Buick Enclave is said to have gotten a “refreshed look” for 2013. By that, I mean they washed it, because I don’t see much in the way of changes. It has the same bulbous overall shape with a splash of LED accent lighting over the headlights. Designed to be a people mover with the ability to travel in style, the Enclave has definitely served that purpose well. And whereas most auto manufacturers give you option lists as long as your arm, the Enclave’s many luxuries come as standard equipment.

These include perforated leather seats that conform to your body and provide comfort and warmth via the easily accessible heated/air-conditioned buttons. The wood grain elements of the interior are a little dated and could use a change, as could the ice blue LED light strip that envelopes the entire vehicle at night, forming a chest-high ring of light. That might have been OK if you’re a fan of the movie Tron, but I find it a bit distracting.

Seating for seven with an option for eight gives riders plenty of room and all seats are comfortable. The second seats slide forward, thanks to Smart slide developed by GM. The rear cargo area is accessed by a programmable power liftgate.

The Buick IntelliLink system is an interactive audio system that enables you to access music and apps from your smartphone. I used the system extensively and it proved to be a real winner.

Many safety features also come standard with this vehicle, including rear cross traffic alerts that help you detect vehicles as you are backing up. There is also an available side blind-zone alert that uses radar to identify a vehicle travelling in one of your blind spots. Besides the normal amount of airbags these vehicles are equipped with, Buick has an industry-first driver’s seat-side, mounted front-centre airbag that can provide cushioning between the driver and front passenger in side impacts.

The all-wheel-drive system can detect wheel slippage and deliver power to the slipping wheel to give you the best grip.

I found the Enclave to be comfortable and the cabin to be quiet. In fact, there is little if any road noise.

Since the weather was nice when I was testing the 2013 Enclave, I took a trip to Whistler up the Sea to Sky Highway. I have always enjoyed that highway with all the twists and curves and if driven at the correct speed you can also take in the amazing beauty of the Coast Mountains. I found the Enclave a little sluggish going uphill but overall, it handled well. The blind-zone alert comes in handy when attempting to pass, and the steering wheel controls pretty much cover everything you need to do while driving.

The highway fuel consumption is rated at 8.4 L/100 km, but I was getting about 8.9 L/100 km on my trip. Overall, it was a nice driving experience and with a few changes, the Enclave could be a more attractive one, too.